Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 11: The US State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals over criminal activity, immigration abuse, fraud, national security concerns and calls for violence against Americans, according to a fact sheet released Monday.
The sweeping action was carried out under President Donald Trump as part of the department’s continuous vetting programme, the State Department said.
The department said most visa revocations followed encounters with law enforcement. Cases involved offences including assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related crimes.
A significant number of visas were also cancelled over reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other offences.
The State Department said its continuous vetting programme was intended to ensure that visa holders complied with the terms of their admission and did not pose a threat to Americans.
Some cases involved foreign nationals facing serious criminal allegations. The department cited one person charged with felony rape and sexual battery, including an alleged assault involving a mentally disabled victim.
Another foreign national was charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor. In a separate case, a visa holder was charged with sodomy of a child and aggravated sexual battery, the fact sheet said.
The department also cited a foreign national charged with more than a dozen counts of possessing child sexual abuse material and a teacher arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a young student.
In another case, a foreign national was arrested after allegedly driving with heroin and recording a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
The department said a US embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of participating in birth tourism. According to the department, they had travelled to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would receive US citizenship.
The fact sheet did not identify the embassy, the country involved or the nationalities of the affected visa holders.
Other revocations involved suspected financial fraud. The department cited a foreign national accused of helping orchestrate a Medicaid scheme worth more than USD 5 million, involving billing for services that were allegedly never provided.
It also described a foreign national who allegedly fabricated company revenue, forged letters and misled investors to obtain millions of dollars from clients. The person allegedly used those claims to fraudulently secure a visa, the department said.
Visas were also revoked from several foreign nationals whom the department said had celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. It cited one person as saying, “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain,” while another said Kirk “died too late.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has separately determined that several foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds, according to the fact sheet.
Those cited include a Cuban national allegedly linked to a Cuban government influence operation, Iranian nationals with connections to Tehran and a Laotian child sex offender who was pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
The department also cited a Kuwaiti national who allegedly wished violence against the US President and referred to Americans as his “enemy”.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the State Department will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people,” the department said.
“A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” it added, saying every available tool would be used to protect American communities from those who abuse the immigration system.
A US visa generally allows a foreign national to travel to a US port of entry and seek admission. It does not guarantee entry, as admission is ultimately decided by US immigration authorities when the traveller arrives.